Post by 50yardfan on Aug 14, 2011 8:37:11 GMT -5
Beef hire indoor football coaching veteran Cowdrey to replace Yost
www.omaha.com/article/20110812/SPORTS/708129815/-1#beef-hire-indoor-football-coaching-veteran-cowdrey-to-replace-yost
The Omaha Beef have hired Bruce Cowdrey as their head coach, replacing Andy Yost.
Yost guided the Indoor Football League team to a 10-6 record in his only season as head coach for the Beef, whose season runs from February through June. Yost served as a Beef assistant coach in 2010.
Yost also coached the Red Oak (Iowa) High School football team last fall before joining Omaha Creighton Prep this school year as an assistant football coach and physical education teacher.
The 58-year-old Cowdrey, a 35-year coaching veteran, has coached in seven championship games in five pro leagues. He will be joining a franchise that has played for 13 seasons.
When he was head coach of the Peoria Pirates, his team won championships in the inaugural Indoor Football League, compiling a 17-0 record in 2000, as well as winning the 2002 AF2 title with the Pirates. He also won conference championships in 1999 (IFL) and 2004 (AF2).
With a 17-3 postseason record as a head coach and assistant, Cowdrey has compiled the most playoff wins in AF2 history with seven.
The Peoria franchise dismissed him in May 2009 after the team got off to a 1-5 start.
The two-time IFL coach of the year also has championship rings as an assistant coach with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush.
"One of the big reasons that I've been lucky enough to have success,'' Cowdrey said in a press release, "is the fact that I have been associated with organizations that have great ownership, front-office personnel, assistant coaches and, of course, great players and fans.
"Omaha has all of these components already in place, so I look forward to the challenge that goes with the title chase in the IFL."
Cowdrey said his experience and extensive network of professional and collegiate contacts will help keep the Beef on a continued successful course.
"Having made the playoffs for 12 straight years, I'm going to work on adding the few pieces that can help bring a championship to Omaha," Cowdrey said.
In a press release, Beef owner Jeff Sprowls said he was excited to hire a coach of Cowdrey's caliber.
"Our search for a new head coach not only included experience, but one with championships under his belt," Sprowls said. "With this hiring, we know that this puts us as the team to beat in the IFL for the 2012 season."
Cowdrey, a native of Smithville, Mo., played football at Missouri Western. His father, Charlie Cowdrey, coached Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, from 1993 through 1995.
www.omaha.com/article/20110812/SPORTS/708129815/-1#beef-hire-indoor-football-coaching-veteran-cowdrey-to-replace-yost
The Omaha Beef have hired Bruce Cowdrey as their head coach, replacing Andy Yost.
Yost guided the Indoor Football League team to a 10-6 record in his only season as head coach for the Beef, whose season runs from February through June. Yost served as a Beef assistant coach in 2010.
Yost also coached the Red Oak (Iowa) High School football team last fall before joining Omaha Creighton Prep this school year as an assistant football coach and physical education teacher.
The 58-year-old Cowdrey, a 35-year coaching veteran, has coached in seven championship games in five pro leagues. He will be joining a franchise that has played for 13 seasons.
When he was head coach of the Peoria Pirates, his team won championships in the inaugural Indoor Football League, compiling a 17-0 record in 2000, as well as winning the 2002 AF2 title with the Pirates. He also won conference championships in 1999 (IFL) and 2004 (AF2).
With a 17-3 postseason record as a head coach and assistant, Cowdrey has compiled the most playoff wins in AF2 history with seven.
The Peoria franchise dismissed him in May 2009 after the team got off to a 1-5 start.
The two-time IFL coach of the year also has championship rings as an assistant coach with the Canadian Football League's Toronto Argonauts and the Arena Football League's Chicago Rush.
"One of the big reasons that I've been lucky enough to have success,'' Cowdrey said in a press release, "is the fact that I have been associated with organizations that have great ownership, front-office personnel, assistant coaches and, of course, great players and fans.
"Omaha has all of these components already in place, so I look forward to the challenge that goes with the title chase in the IFL."
Cowdrey said his experience and extensive network of professional and collegiate contacts will help keep the Beef on a continued successful course.
"Having made the playoffs for 12 straight years, I'm going to work on adding the few pieces that can help bring a championship to Omaha," Cowdrey said.
In a press release, Beef owner Jeff Sprowls said he was excited to hire a coach of Cowdrey's caliber.
"Our search for a new head coach not only included experience, but one with championships under his belt," Sprowls said. "With this hiring, we know that this puts us as the team to beat in the IFL for the 2012 season."
Cowdrey, a native of Smithville, Mo., played football at Missouri Western. His father, Charlie Cowdrey, coached Morningside College in Sioux City, Iowa, from 1993 through 1995.